Seventeen division-level military units in South Korea have been dissolved or merged over the past two decades, driven by a significant reduction in troop numbers.

According to military data submitted to Rep. Choo Mi-ae and released on Sunday, the number of division-level units has dropped from 59 in 2006 to just 42 as of now.

South Korea's troop count has declined from 560-thousand in 2019 to 450-thousand as of July 2025, largely due to the country's persistently low birth rate.

Experts warn that this figure falls 50-thousand short of the 500-thousand troops deemed necessary to effectively deter threats from North Korea.

The army has been particularly affected, with its troop numbers shrinking by 100-thousand over the past six years to a current total of 200-thousand.

As a result, each division is now responsible for a larger operational area, raising concerns about reduced efficiency and diminished defensive capabilities.